Heating apparatus for heating hair curlers

ABSTRACT

A heating apparatus for heating hair curlers is disposed in a housing and clamped by at least one hair clip. The heating apparatus comprises two assembling members and two thermal conductive members which are coupled one another and disposed on a base. Each of the thermal conductive members includes a heating member and an elastic piece for fixing the heating member. Above the assembling members and the thermal conductive members is disposed a cover. The two heating members are closely pushed against the thermal conductive layers of the hair clip, so as to reduce the length of heat transferring route, and consequently improving heating efficiency and enhancing temperature control accuracy. Furthermore, the heating apparatus has a simple structure and can be easily assembled at a low manufacturing cost.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heating apparatus, and moreparticularly to a heating apparatus which is used in combination withhair clips to form a heating hair curler, the heated hair clips aresuitable for use on Velcro or spongy rollers, and can also be used incombination with pre-heating rollers.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many heating type hair styling apparatuses have been developed. One ofthem is a heat apparatus for heating hair clips as shown in FIGS. 1-3,wherein a plurality of clips A, which are each provided with a thermalconductive layer A1, are disposed in a receiving space B1 of a base B.In the base B are further disposed two parallel heating members 10 and acontrol circuit C. The clips A for heating and styling hair are clippedon and heated by the heating members 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, adirection along which the heating members 10 extend is defined as alongitudinal direction, in each of the heating members 10 is disposed anelongated electronic heating element 11 electrically connected to thecontrol circuit C. Between the electronic heating element 11 and thethermal conductive layer A1 are disposed a pair of balancers 12, aplurality of arc-shaped heat conductive members 13 and two thermalinsulators 14.

The balancers 12 and the thermal insulators 14 are formed with openingsfor allowing the heat conductive members 13 to extend into contact withthe thermal conductive layers A1 of the clip A. The electronic heatingelement 11 is clamped in space defined by the two balancers 12, the heatconductive members 13 and two opposed clampers 15. Between each of thethermal insulators 14 and the heat conductive members 13 and theclampers 15 is provided a fixing member 16 to fix the thermal insulators14.

It is to be noted that temperature control of the heating members 10 isa very important factor in hair styling, hair will be hurt iftemperature is too high, or hair cannot be styled if temperature is toolow. However, as shown in FIG. 3, there is a space distance D betweenthe balancers 12 and the corresponding thermal conductive members 13,which is not conducive to heat transfer. Therefore, the balancers 12,the clampers 15 and the thermal conducive members 13 become the mainheat transferring route for transferring the heat generated from theelectronic heating elements 11 to the clip A. The thermal conductivemembers 13 are arc-shaped and only partially in contact with thebalancers 12, resulting in a small heat transferring area. Besides, theheat transferring route from the electronic heating elements 11 to theclip A is long, which will cause great heat loss. The electronic heatingelements 11 have a low heating efficiency, and it is difficult tocontrol the temperature of the clip A to be heated by the heatingelements 11. On top of that, this conventional heat apparatus forheating retaining hair clips has the problems of complicated structure,and high manufacturing cost.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a heatingapparatus for heating hair curlers, wherein the heating apparatus isprovided with two heating members to be closely pushed against thethermal conductive layers of the hair clip, so as to reduce the lengthof heat transferring route, and consequently improving heatingefficiency and enhancing temperature control accuracy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heatingapparatus for heating hair curlers, which has a simple structure and canbe easily assembled at a low manufacturing cost.

To achieve the above objects, a heating apparatus for heating haircurlers in accordance with the present invention is disposed in ahousing and clamped by at least one hair clip. The heating apparatuscomprises a base, two assembling members, two thermal conductivemembers, two heating member, two elastic piece and a cover. The baseincludes two assembling portions at two opposite ends thereof. At abottom of each of the assembling portions is formed an elastic portionwhich is provided at an end thereof with an engaging block, a directionextending between the two ends of the base is defined as X. The twoassembling members are engaged in the assembling portions of the baseand each includes a board which is provided along the direction X withan inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of each of theboards is provided along the direction X with two T-shaped engagingcavities, an engaging hole between the engaging cavities, and twopositioning protrusions. The boards of the two assembling members areengaged in the assembling portions of the base with their inner surfacesopposed to each other in such a manner that the engaging blocks of theelastic portions of the base are engaged in the engaging holes of theassembling members. The two thermal conductive members are each providedalong the direction X with an assembling surface and a thermalconductive surface which is arc-shaped to fit the shape of the hairclip. The assembling surface is formed with a receiving groove, along anouter edge of the receiving groove are formed two engaging ribsextending in the direction X, and along a bottom of the receiving grooveis formed a locking rib with a T-shaped cross section. The thermalconductive members are disposed between the two assembling members withtheir assembling surfaces opposed to each other, and both ends of thelocking ribs of the thermal conductive members are engaged in theengaging cavities of the two assembling members. The two heating membersare disposed in the receiving grooves of the two thermal conductivemembers and electrically connected to a control circuit disposed in thehousing. The two elastic pieces are each provided with two opposedelastic edges extending in the direction X and an elastic abuttingportion between the two elastic edges. The elastic pieces are disposedin the receiving grooves of the thermal conductive members in such amanner that the elastic edges are engaged with the engaging ribs of thethermal conductive members, and the heating members are pressed into thereceiving grooves of the thermal conductive members by the elasticabutting portions of the elastic pieces. The cover is provided at twoends thereof in the direction X with two positioning portions, and anarc-shaped rest portion being formed between the positioning portions tofit the hair clip, the positioning portions of the cover being assembledto the two assembling members in such a manner that each of thepositioning portions is provided with two positioning cavities forengaging with the two positioning protrusions of each of the assemblingmembers, and the rest portion is rested against positioning walls of thetwo thermal conductive members, the rest portion and the thermalconductive surfaces of the thermal conductive members define a structureto fit the shape of the hair clip.

When in use, the hair clip is clamped on the cover and the two thermalconductive members, and two thermal conductive layers inside the hairclip are pushed against the thermal conductive surfaces of the twothermal conductive members, the control circuit controls the two heatingmembers to heat the conductive layers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional hair curler;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the conventional hair curler;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a heating apparatus of theconventional hair curler;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hair curler in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is an assembly view of a heating apparatus and the heating curlerin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the heating apparatus for heating haircurlers in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the heating apparatus for heatinghair curlers in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be clearer from the following descriptionwhen viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, forpurpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordancewith the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 4-7, a heating apparatus for heating hair curlers inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention isdisposed in a housing 80 and clamped by at least one hair clip 90. Theheating apparatus comprises two assembling members 30 and two thermalconductive members 40 which are coupled one another and disposed on abase 20. Each of the thermal conductive members 40 includes a heatingmember 50 and an elastic piece 60 for fixing the heating member 50.Above the assembling members 30 and the thermal conductive members 40 isdisposed a cover 70.

The base 20 includes two assembling portions 21 at two opposite endsthereof, each of the assembling portions 21 is a stepped structure whichincludes a first notch 211 and a second notch 212. At a bottom of thesecond notch 212 is formed an elastic portion 22 which is provided atthe end thereof with an engaging block 221. A direction extendingbetween the two ends of the base 20 is defined as X, and a directionperpendicular to the direction X is defined as Y. In this embodiment,the housing 80 includes a lower half 801 and an upper half 802 pivotallycoupled to each other. The base 20 is disposed in the lower half 801.

The assembling members 30 are engaged in the assembling portions 21 ofthe base 20 and each include a board 31 which is provided along thedirection X with an inner surface 311 and an outer surface 312. Theouter surface 312 is provided along the direction Y with a pair of firstengaging protrusions 32 and a pair of second engaging protrusions 33.The inner surface 311 of each of the boards 31 is provided along thedirection X with two T-shaped engaging cavities 34, an engaging hole 35between the engaging cavities 34, a clamping notch 36 extending alongthe direction Y, and two positioning protrusions 37 at two sides of theclamping notch 36. The boards 31 of the two assembling members 30 areengaged in the assembling portions 21 of the base 20 with their innersurfaces 311 opposed to each other in such a manner that the secondengaging protrusions 33 are engaged in the second notches 212 of thebase 20, the first engaging protrusions 32 are engaged in the firstnotches 211, and the engaging blocks 221 of the elastic portions 22 ofthe base 20 are engaged in the engaging holes 35 of the assemblingmembers 30.

The two thermal conductive members 40 are made of aluminum and disposedbetween the two assembling members 30. Each of the thermal conductivemembers 40 is provided along the direction X with an assembling surface401 extending in the direction X and a thermal conductive surface 402which is arc-shaped to fit the shape of the hair clip. The assemblingsurface 401 is formed with a receiving groove 41 which is defined by twopositioning walls 411 extending in the direction X. Each of thepositioning walls 411 is provided along an outer edge of the receivinggroove 41 with an engaging rib 412. Along a bottom of the receivinggroove 41 is formed a locking rib 42 with a T-shaped cross section. Thethermal conductive members 40 are disposed between the two assemblingmembers 30 with their assembling surfaces 401 opposed to each other, andboth ends of the locking ribs 42 of the thermal conductive members 40are engaged in the engaging cavities 34 of the two assembling members30.

The heating members 50 are disposed in the receiving grooves 41 of thetwo thermal conductive members 40 and electrically connected to acontrol circuit 81 disposed in the housing 80 via the clamping notches36 of the assembling members 30. In this embodiment, the control circuit81 employs a power supply (not shown) to supply electric power to theheating members 50, and the power supply can be AC power or DC power.

Each of the elastic pieces 60 is provided with two opposed elastic edges61 extending in the direction X and an elastic abutting portion 62between the two elastic edges 61. The elastic pieces 60 are disposed inthe receiving grooves 41 of the thermal conductive members 40 in such amanner that the elastic edges 61 are engaged with the engaging ribs 412of the thermal conductive members 40, and the heating members 50 arepressed into the receiving grooves 41 of the thermal conductive members40 by the elastic abutting portion 62 of the elastic pieces 60.

The cover 70 is provided at two ends thereof in the direction X with twopositioning portions 71, and an arc-shaped rest portion 72 is formedbetween the positioning portions 71 to fit the hair clip 90. Thepositioning portions 71 of the cover 70 are assembled to the twoassembling members 30 in such a manner that the each of the positioningportions 71 is provided with two positioning cavities 711 for engagingwith the two positioning protrusions 37 of each of the assemblingmembers 30, and the rest portion 72 is rested against the positioningwalls 411 of the two thermal conductive members 40. Hence, the restportion 72 and the thermal conductive surfaces 402 of the thermalconductive members 40 define a structure to fit the shape of the hairclip 90.

When in use, the hair clip 90 is clamped on the cover 70 and the twothermal conductive members 40, and the structure combined by the cover70 and the thermal conductive members 40 pushes the hair clip 90 open,so that two thermal conductive layers 91 inside the hair clip 90 arepushed closely against the thermal conductive surfaces 402 of the twothermal conductive members 40. Using the control circuit 81 can controlthe two heating members 50 to heat the conductive layers 91, so that thehair clip 90 can be heated to do hair styling.

In summary, the same number of heating members 50 as the thermalconductive layers 91 of the hair clip 90 are disposed inside the heatapparatus, and the base 20, and the assembling members 30, the thermalconductive members 40 and the cover 70 are assembled into a structurewhich can substantially reduce the distance D between the heatingmembers 50 and the thermal conductive layers 91 of the hair clip 90,while considerably increasing the heat transferring area between theheating members 50 and the thermal conductive members 40. Hence, thepresent invention is not only capable of improving heating efficiency ofthe heating apparatus, but also can reduce the temperature differencebetween the heating members 50 and the thermal conductive layers 91 ofthe hair clip 90, providing more precise temperature control.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance withthe present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art thatfurther embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heating apparatus for heating hair curlersbeing disposed in a housing and clamped by at least one hair clip; theheating apparatus comprising: a base including two assembling portionsat two opposite ends thereof, at a bottom of each of the assemblingportions being formed an elastic portion which is provided at an endthereof with an engaging block, a direction extending between the twoends of the base being defined as X; two assembling members engaged inthe assembling portions of the base and each including a board which isprovided along the direction X with an inner surface and an outersurface, the inner surface of each of the boards being provided alongthe direction X with two T-shaped engaging cavities, an engaging holebetween the engaging cavities, and two positioning protrusions, theboards of the two assembling members are engaged in the assemblingportions of the base with their inner surfaces opposed to each other insuch a manner that the engaging blocks of the elastic portions of thebase are engaged in the engaging holes of the assembling members; twothermal conductive members, each of which being provided along thedirection X with an assembling surface and a thermal conductive surfacewhich is arc-shaped to fit the shape of the hair clip, the assemblingsurface being formed with a receiving groove, along an outer edge of thereceiving groove being formed two engaging ribs extending in thedirection X, along a bottom of the receiving groove being formed alocking rib with a T-shaped cross section, the thermal conductivemembers are disposed between the two assembling members with theirassembling surfaces opposed to each other, and both ends of the lockingribs of the thermal conductive members are engaged in the engagingcavities of the two assembling members; two heating members disposed inthe receiving grooves of the two thermal conductive members andelectrically connected to a control circuit disposed in the housing; twoelastic pieces each provided with two opposed elastic edges extending inthe direction X and an elastic abutting portion between the two elasticedges, the elastic pieces being disposed in the receiving grooves of thethermal conductive members in such a manner that the elastic edges areengaged with the engaging ribs of the thermal conductive members, andthe heating members are pressed into the receiving grooves of thethermal conductive members by the elastic abutting portions of theelastic pieces; and a cover provided at two ends thereof in thedirection X with two positioning portions, and an arc-shaped restportion being formed between the positioning portions to fit the hairclip, the positioning portions of the cover being assembled to the twoassembling members in such a manner that each of the positioningportions is provided with two positioning cavities for engaging with thetwo positioning protrusions of each of the assembling members, and therest portion is rested against positioning walls of the two thermalconductive members, the rest portion and the thermal conductive surfacesof the thermal conductive members define a structure to fit the shape ofthe hair clip; when in use, the hair clip is clamped on the cover andthe two thermal conductive members, and two thermal conductive layersinside the hair clip are pushed against the thermal conductive surfacesof the two thermal conductive members, the control circuit controls thetwo heating members to heat the conductive layers.
 2. The heatingapparatus for heating hair curlers as claimed in claim 1, wherein adirection perpendicular to the direction X is defined as Y; each of theassembling portions is a stepped structure which includes a first notchand a second notch, at a bottom of the second notch is formed theelastic portion; the outer surface of each of the two assembling membersis provided along the direction Y with a pair of first engagingprotrusions and a pair of second engaging protrusions, the engaging holeruns through each of the boards and is located between the engagingcavities and the first and second engaging protrusions, the secondengaging protrusions of the assembling members are engaged in the secondnotches of the base, the first engaging protrusions are engaged in thefirst notches of the base, and the engaging blocks of the elasticportions of the base are engaged in the engaging holes of the assemblingmembers.
 3. The heating apparatus for heating hair curlers as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the receiving groove of each of the thermal conductivemembers is defined by the two positioning walls extending in thedirection X, the engaging ribs are provided on the positioning walls. 4.The heating apparatus for heating hair curlers as claimed in claim 1,wherein a direction perpendicular to the direction X is defined as Y,each of the boards is provided with a clamping notch extending along thedirection Y, the two positioning protrusions are located at two sides ofthe clamping notch, and the heating members are electrically connectedto the control circuit via the clamping notch.
 5. The heating apparatusfor heating hair curlers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two thermalconductive members are made of aluminum.
 6. The heating apparatus forheating hair curlers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includesa lower half and an upper half pivotally coupled to each other, and thebase is disposed in the lower half.